Guerra T, Pipoli A, Viterbo RG, Manghisi N, Paolicelli D, Iaffaldano P, Di Lorenzo L. Predictors of unemployment status in people with relapsing multiple sclerosis: a single center experience.
Neurol Sci 2022;
43:4387-4392. [PMID:
35322339 PMCID:
PMC9213301 DOI:
10.1007/s10072-022-06029-4]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common cause of nontraumatic chronic neurological disability affecting young adults during their crucial employment years.
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate patients and disease related factors associated to unemployment in a cohort of relapsing-remitting (RR) MS patients.
METHODS
We included RRMS patients with a follow-up of at least 1 year. We collected data about years of school education and employment status. Patients underwent a neuropsychological evaluation using the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS). Demographic and clinical predictors of unemployment were assessed through a multivariable stepwise logistic regression model.
RESULTS
We evaluated 260 consecutive RRMS patients. Employed patients were less frequently female (68.4% vs 83.3%, p = 0.006), less disabled (median Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score: 2.0 (0-7.0) vs 2.5 (0-7.5), p < 0.001), with more years of school education (mean ± standard deviation (SD), years: 13.74 ± 0.30 vs 10.86 ± 3.47, p < 0.001). Female sex and a higher EDSS score resulted associated with a greater risk of unemployment (OR 3.510, 95% CI 1.654-7.448, p = 0.001; OR 1.366, 95% CI 1.074-1.737, p = 0.011, respectively), whereas a greater number of years of schooling and current disease-modifying therapy exposure resulted protective factors (OR 0.788, 95% CI 0.723-0.858, p < 0,001; OR 0.414, 95% CI 0.217-0.790, p = 0.008, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS
Understanding work is pervasively influenced by consequences of MS, we confirmed the impact of demographic, physical, and cognitive factors on employment status in RRMS patients.
Collapse